Fiorentina threw away a 2-0 lead in Basel and had Facundo Roncaglia sent off, so this 2-2 draw leaves Europa League qualification in the balance.
Basel are sure of top spot in the group, but the Tuscans need a final draw at home to Belenenses.
Fiorentina threw away a 2-0 lead in Basel and had Facundo Roncaglia sent off, so this 2-2 draw leaves Europa League qualification in the balance.
Basel are sure of top spot in the group, but the Tuscans need a final draw at home to Belenenses.
The Viola had lost both home fixtures in Europe this season, but won both away with six goals scored and none conceded. It was an emotional trip back to St. Jakob-Park for ex-Basel boss Paulo Sousa, who won the Swiss title here last season. Both sides knew a win would secure qualification for the Round of 32.
Josip Ilicic had very strong penalty appeals in the opening couple of minutes, as he dribbled into the box and the ball was taken off his foot by a sliding Mohamed Elneny challenge, getting to it with his hand.
Fiorentina took the lead when Borja Valero’s smart through ball sent Federico Bernardeschi into space down the right and he beat the goalkeeper with a deft touch one-on-one.
However, the Viola shot themselves quite spectacularly in the foot, as Facundo Roncaglia received a straight red card for lashing out an elbow at Breel Embolo. The defender looked over his shoulder to check his position, so cannot argue it was unintentional, leaving Fiorentina down to 10 men for over an hour.
Ilicic had a problem in the warm-up anyway, so was the natural choice to make way for Nenad Tomovic. Basel poured forward with a series of corners and Borja Valero charging down the Jean-Paul Boetius strike.
However, the Viola managed to double their advantage despite these circumstances. Marcos Alonso could’ve gone for goal, but intelligently rolled across for Bernardeschi to complete his brace from seven yards.
Basel got one back before the break, as Luigi Sepe did brilliantly to deny an Embolo header, but could do nothing on the Marek Suchy follow-up.
Marcos Alonso’s free kick whistled just wide, but Basel finally completed the comeback against 10 men when a corner fell to Elneny on the edge of the area and he took a touch before smashing a splendid half-volley past Sepe.
Basel 2-2 Fiorentina
Scorers: Bernardeschi 23, 36 (F), Suchy 40 (B), Elneny 74 (B)
Basel: Vailati; Xhaka, M Lang, Suchy, Safari; Boetius (Callà 60), Elneny, Zuffi, Bjarnason (Kuzmanovic 88); Embolo, Janko
Fiorentina: Sepe; Roncaglia, Gonzalo Rodriguez, Astori; Bernardeschi (Babacar 85), Vecino, Badelj (Gilberto 85), Alonso; Borja Valero, Ilicic (Tomovic 33); Kalinic
Ref: Kruzliak (SVK)
Sent off: Roncaglia 26 (F)